Hartlepool United defender set to return against Halifax Town

Magnay missed the weekend win over Woking due to suspension, having been unfairly dismissed for a second bookable offence in the loss to Eastleigh two weeks previous.

And it is expected manager Craig Harrison will throw him in from the off at the Shay tonight, given that he is so light on senior bodies.

Harrison had just 13 senior professionals to call upon on Saturday, and bar Magnay, it is not expected he will have any others to draft in for the trip to West Yorkshire.

In fact, he might well have to shuffle his pack and bring in one or two of his fringe players or even turn to the youngsters, given that the weekend was the first game back for Luke George and Rhys Oates after lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Lewis Hawkins is on standby should Oates fail to make the cut from the off.

Elsewhere on the injury front Pools are without five players due to various knocks.

Aaron Cunningham continues to recover from an ankle problem. Ryan Donaldson, also out with an ankle problem, is slowly progressing from his double operation. He is back out on the training field but it is likely that tonight will come around too soon for the winger. Liam Donnelly injured his ankle at Eastliegh, while Michael Ledger’s groin is keeping him sidelined, so too Kenton Richardson’s shoulder.